A historic site in Richmond, North Yorkshire, could soon become a vibrant centre for cultural events and digital innovation under new plans set to be considered by councillors. The former Richmond Grammar School building, which has been vacant since 2011, is the focus of a proposal aimed at revitalising the site and providing opportunities for local communities, particularly younger generations.
The Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust has drawn up the plans, following 12 months of public consultations, to transform the Grade II listed building into a facility for both cultural activities and digital enterprise. The proposal includes a focus on offering local young people access to new opportunities, including the integration of cutting-edge technology into the area.
Members of North Yorkshire Council’s executive will meet on May 6 to review the proposals, which would see the site, currently owned by the council, transferred to the Preservation Trust for use as a community hub. Cllr Gareth Dadd, Deputy Leader of North Yorkshire Council, expressed his support for the project, noting that it would bring opportunities and experiences to Richmond that are typically only found in larger towns and cities.
“We are in the last chance saloon with this building,” said Cllr Dadd. “If this project doesn’t move forward, the building would have to be sold. This is a major opportunity to bring vitality and enterprise to Richmond and the Dales.”
The grammar school, which dates back to the 14th century, has a rich history, with notable former pupils including Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. However, despite several attempts to bring the site back into community use since its closure, the building has remained vacant for over a decade.
The plans proposed by the Preservation Trust aim to breathe new life into the historic building, offering potential space for the town’s library and broader community learning facilities. Cllr Stuart Parsons, the elected member for Richmond, emphasised how important the site is to the local community, describing the opportunity to bring the building into a new phase as “extremely exciting.”
The Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, known for its successful redevelopment of the town’s former railway station into a cultural hub, has pledged to launch a major fundraising campaign to finance the development if the proposal is approved. The Station, which opened in 2007, now houses a cinema, restaurant, galleries, and independent businesses.
If the transfer of the site to the Preservation Trust goes ahead, the council will remain committed to ensuring the building serves the community. However, if sufficient funding is not secured, the site, valued at £370,000, may be put up for sale.
The future of the Richmond Grammar School site now hinges on the outcome of the executive meeting on May 6, with the potential to revitalise a key landmark in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
